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Articles | Tropical Environment, Biology, and Technology | Volume 3 - Issue 1 - 2025 | 51-63 | https://doi.org/10.53623/tebt.v3i1.652
© 2025 by the author(s), and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License

Evaluation of Microbial Contamination and Diversity in Raw Goat Meat from Selected Abattoirs in Awka, Nigeria

Author(s): Ugochukwu Chukwuma Okafor ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2065-7039 , Ikechukwu Martins Nwobu ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4530-888X , Chidiebele Lawrence Ozuah ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1383-9203
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Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing, Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

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Tropical Environment, Biology, and Technology

Volume 3 - Issue 1 - 2025

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The present investigation aimed to quantify and characterize the microbial diversity and contamination load in raw goat meat procured from abattoirs within the Awka Metropolis, with a focus on hygiene indicator microorganisms and pathogenic entities. Raw meat samples were systematically collected from five predefined anatomical regions—liver, muscle, top site, belly, and genitals—on five randomly selected carcasses from multiple abattoirs. The samples were cultured using an array of selective media, leading to the identification and enumeration of thirteen fungal isolates and sixteen bacterial isolates. The isolates were subsequently purified and identified to the species level through comprehensive macroscopic, microscopic, and biochemical analyses. The microbial contamination load was then compared against local and international regulatory benchmarks. All measured contamination levels were found to be within permissible thresholds, with most microbial loads reflecting the prevailing sanitary and environmental conditions within the Awka Metropolis. The study revealed the presence of pathogenic bacterial species with the following frequencies: Escherichia coli (100%), Klebsiella spp. (60%), Salmonella spp. (60%), and Staphylococcus aureus (100%). Among fungal contaminants, Candida albicans (80%), Aspergillus niger (80%), and Fusarium spp. (60%) were predominant. The microorganisms identified were primarily opportunistic pathogens but posed significant risks to public health, particularly to individuals with pre-existing conditions or compromised immune systems. These findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced sanitary protocols not only within abattoirs but also in the management of water sources and overall hygiene infrastructure throughout Awka, in order to mitigate microbial transmission risks and safeguard public health.

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SUBMITTED: 03 April 2025
ACCEPTED: 15 May 2025
PUBLISHED: 19 May 2025
SUBMITTED to ACCEPTED: 42 days
DOI: https://doi.org/10.53623/tebt.v3i1.652

Cite this article
Okafor, U. C., Nwobu, I. M. ., & Ozuah , C. L. . (2025). Evaluation of Microbial Contamination and Diversity in Raw Goat Meat from Selected Abattoirs in Awka, Nigeria. Tropical Environment, Biology, and Technology, 3(1), 51–63. https://doi.org/10.53623/tebt.v3i1.652
Keywords
Fungal Isolates Microbial Contamination Pathogenic Bacteria Raw Goat Meat Sanitary Protocols
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